How to Promote Your Music Like a Boss in 2018

WYC003_Social_v1-Blog-3 — Wyclef knows how to get the word out there.

Creative, quality content is still king—but musicians these days have to do more than just play, sing, or rhyme. You have to promote yourself, too. All that extra work might sound terrifying (and expensive) – until you discover how easy and affordable it is to find professional assistance along the way, including music and audio services on Fiverr Pro.

Now that music is mostly digital, you can take control of every step of the PR process. Here’s how to promote your music in 2018, like a boss.

Create an HQ.

Think of your website as the online home for you and your band. Make building a strong website your first priority. This is where your fans, both old and new, will go to verify tour dates and get official news. Use your website to control your image and promote your message – you can even sell merchandise. Also, optimize for SEO so that your website reaches the greatest number of potential listeners.

Blog about it.

Host a blog on your website (or you can try WordPress) and use it to show your audience a more intimate side of you. Update with notes from the studio or from the road. Post your song lyrics and use the space to explain some of your more obscure references (if you want to, that is). Just remember to keep content fresh as all hell.

Email your fans.

Build a strong database of contacts, then use it. Collect emails – via a landing page, via social, on your website as well as at gigs – and commit to sending out a regular newsletter. Reward your fans for opening emails and reading through by including promo codes in your emails. In every email, be sure to include links that drive fans back to your website or social media pages.

Perfect your press package.

Great PR makes all the difference—but you don’t need to spend big to make a big impact. Developing a solid press package with a press release, photos, band bio, and links will save you time down the road (and when you’re on the road). A press package is a reliable way to earn you media attention and make it easy for press outlets to cover your work and promote upcoming shows.

Make YouTube yours.

A polished, professional YouTube channel that links to your site, social media pages, and is consistently updated with video content will help you gain new subscribers (and fans) and reach audiences you might otherwise not find. You can also use the platform to network with other musicians. Just make sure your music videos are high-quality and get some post-production help if you need it.

Get social.

A strong social media presence is mandatory these days. But don’t waste your time on irrelevant platforms. Focus on the social media channels your fans actually follow (and use). I love Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—but I use each platform for different things. Find out where your audience is and try Insta Stories, Insta Live, and other live-streaming apps to show a more spontaneous side of yourself to fans. Take your audience BTS (behind the scenes) as you’re setting up a show or at an acoustic set. Comb the comments for real-time feedback and to engage directly with your listeners. And don’t be afraid to get Pro social media help if you feel like you don’t have time to post yourself.

Go to the music and audio pros.

This is the real #1 thing to do. Before you begin any promotional efforts, you have to have something worthwhile to promote. Get help with everything from mixing and mastering to finding producers and composers or other musicians and singers to collaborate with and help perfect your tracks. Being a musician has never been easy. But while the digitization of music has changed the rules of the game, there are also more avenues than ever for you to reach your fans. Just don’t be afraid to ask for some help along the way from the pros.

Are you a musician? How do you promote your work? What strategies have worked best for you? Ask Wyclef your questions in the comments below—and tune in tonight to hear him answer them live during our exclusive Q&A.